Systems, devices and methods for electricity provision, usage monitoring, analysis, and enabling improvements in efficiency

ABSTRACT

The invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for the efficient use of utilities, more particularly to the distribution and provision of electricity supply at appropriate voltages, monitoring and usage by end devices, and to facilitating consumers in changing their energy usage behaviour, and to adopt and easily install appropriate sustainable, energy efficient or renewable technologies. Said end devices typically including traditional electric, electronic and lighting appliances requiring AC or DC power provision or low voltage DC power via AC/DC converters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to British patentapplication no. 0816721.5, filed Sep. 13, 2008, the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION(S)

The invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for theefficient use of utilities, more particularly to the distribution andprovision of electricity supply at appropriate voltages, monitoring andusage by end devices, and to facilitating consumers in changing theirenergy usage behaviour, and to adopt and easily install appropriatesustainable, energy efficient or renewable technologies.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION(S)

20^(th) Century Electricity power transmission was dominated by theTesla and Westinghouse system of AC Alternating Current which won overthe earlier Edison DC power distribution model, in part as power wasgenerally generated remotely, transmitted efficiently over longdistances via AC and at high voltage (to minimize conductor size andpower law distribution losses, and HVDC conversion technology was notknown then), and used for generally high load end device applications indomestic, office and factory locations via AC 110/240 v power circuitryand sockets, which remain the dominant in buildings today.

However 21^(st) century requirements are changing, in both theproduction and consumption of energy as well as new environmental andconservation pressures, suggesting a new architecture for powerprovision and control in buildings.

Today many renewable technologies, localized storage, local distributedgeneration or home micro-generation/CHP technologies are available oremerging that can provide power closer to end loads, for example somecan be placed a few metres away in households so have advantages ofreducing distribution loss issues. Similarly they have potential toreduce conversion loss as several technologies, such as storage, solarphoto-voltaics produce DC output directly negating the losses fromrectifying/inverting to AC if it can be connected directly to suitableend loads. However, significant challenges in physically implementingsuch renewable solutions (and particularly low cost micro-generators aswell as mini generators or energy scavengers providing only smallamounts of power) in every day houses and building circuitry remain;such as controlling and connecting into existing building circuitry,designing for easy ‘Plug/Play’ application in the context of a lack ofcommon voltage or other standards in end devices and supply, ormeasuring suitable circuit/device load opportunities for intermittentrenewable supplies, consumer ease and cost of change, and matchingsolutions to consumers and usage type and achievable consumer changebehaviour, as well as timing and choosing to deploy or retro-fit suchsolutions cost effectively within the limits of the current technologyadequacy level and apply them to the right end applications vs.intermediary up-grade paths or migration points or developing new buildapproaches as new technology becomes available.

Similarly the modern end load requirement is changing in terms of whereand what electricity is used for. Modern electronic devices,particularly consumer and portable electronics, lighting technologies(e.g. LED/OLED) are increasingly low power and DC. They are alsoproliferating as electronics is embedded into more and more devices suchthat consumers today have significant number of DC devices, eachrequiring dedicated cables, AC/DC adaptors to draw power, or internalpower converters, or are battery operated with dedicated chargerstations or use removable disposable batteries. Frequently devices areinefficiently connected to power supply, as cables, batteries andchargers, adaptors traditionally have a low cost focus and high AC/DClosses, or have poor power control (are frequently left on a powerconsuming standby mode, or are always on even when not utilized), or arenot standardized or capable of tolerating or converting supply voltagedifferences or using universal adaptors, and consequentially clog uplimited AC socket space or cause wiring hazards or portableinconvenience, have high churn as dedicated and obsolete with the devicewasting precious natural resources and materials. It is estimated thatin excess of 10 billion adaptors are in use worldwide, wasting 2-3% ofnational electricity in power conversion alone (and further loses withstandby inefficiency), and each year over a billion adaptors go intolandfill, along with over 15 billion disposable batteries.

This shift towards low power DC is set to continue with proliferation ofphone/portable electronic devices, lighting and with devices themselvesbecoming more energy efficient, particularly as advances insemi-conductor and nanotechnology enable ever smaller intelligent orembedded devices, and the centralization of services (see below). Theresult is that at the household level a majority of devices will be lowload DC, yet the problem of connectivity to the legacy grid/domestic ACsupply is significant—it is not designed or optimal for an increasinglyDC future.

These problems prompt the need, which the invention (among other things)provides means to address, for better provision of low power DC supplyin building circuitry to co-exist alongside or partially replace ACcircuitry—which is still required for traditional legacy high loaddevices such as cooking/washing/heating appliances, lighting premigration to more efficient solutions, electric vehicles or highlymechanical/electric motor based devices, and adolescent productcategories (many technologies often emerge first as high load but becomemore efficient on power over decades e.g. TVs from CRT to LCD to OLED,or music from mechanical to digital, lighting from incandescent to CFLto LED/OLED). Said low power provision may include dedicated wiring orwiring re-use, renewables integration, points of efficient AC/DCconversion, sub-loop circuits of localized DC power, DC power servers orsockets and suitable control, variable voltage capability and storagemeans.

Some of these problems have previously led to using alternate dedicatedwiring, such as the legacy phone network, Ethernet to act as a low powersource commonly referred to as ‘PoE—Power over Ethernet’ around a 48 vsupply level, and other standards such as the Universal Serial Port—USB,however, such approaches have generally required dedicated wiring, cablelength restrictions and load limits (e.g. PoE 12-15 W, USB 0.5-2.5 W/4m) however, they play a role in the overall architecture for powerprovision of the invention given the universal benefit of end connectorssuch as Ethernet and USB for end socket loads, as do similar classes ofpower connector adaptors (typically found on 9V AC/DC adaptors forcomputers, or 3-5 v adaptors for mobile phones).

Whilst such proposals of power over Ethernet or USB protocol for powerprovision have largely focused on selected devices and not on how suchsystems could be aligned against AC circuits, particularly domesticcircuits, or to incorporate renewables and a wide range of end deviceswith different voltage requirements.

Another factor in power provision is the changing trends in where energyis consumed or devices are charged. Many low power devices are portable,so a small but increasing proportion of a consumers energy e.g.laptops/phones, is now ‘carried’ and relies on wasteful disposablebatteries or re-charging at different locations—which has alreadyresulted in one company (a budget airline) banning staff from chargingpersonal mobile phones in offices as passing costs to the employer.Electric vehicle storage batteries may charge from dedicated stations,or swap over batteries at charge banks, or overnight charging at homes(when power is cheaper or when directed to be charged by intelligentvehicle to grid V2G or smart grid load balancing systems), and may alsohave the capability (supported by the invention) to provide power backto the home for suitable DC/low load applications, or as per prior art(e.g. Google/Gridpoint vehicle/direct response systems) to provide powerback to the grid under ‘direct response’ systems that also seek tobalance peak energy requirements by turning off systems (e.g. HVAC) thathave been pre-allocated as low priority to prevent the need to havebuilt additional network generation capacity for peaks. Similar Fuelcell/hybrid cars may also act to provide power into homes or smart gridsystems, and smaller scale fuel cells in CHP systems or as portable fuelcells may also have the ability to act as charging stations or providesupply into circuitry.

A further relevant trend is an overall virtualization of products andservices, and a centralization of data and application provision in datacentres or the wider network under cloud computing. As a result powerconsumption in data centres is growing significantly (e.g. exceeded 1.5%of total US consumption in 2006), along with power required to supportconstant 24×7 uptime and access at high bandwidth across physical andmobile networks. On one level this shifts energy consumption morecentrally from homes/offices to central locations as end computingdevices become ‘thin clients’ both in processing/storage as well as inenergy requirements however, this is partly balanced by the trend toleave computers as well as broadband and wireless routers on constantly.This trend reflects consumers increasingly outsourcing activities to thenetwork—such as memory or basic organization (mapping information,diary/contact details, basic information/search) and services which maynot always have positive energy reduction trade-offs, even though theinvention discloses capabilities to similarly enable energy managementto be outsourced to third parties and web services to drive efficiencygains. A similar transition and trade-off has occurred in productvirtualization and moving to solid state devices, such as in musicapparatus, where current low power music devices such as MP3 (e.g. 160m+ iPod devices), are significantly energy and materials efficientcompared to the electric motor and oil (DVD/CD/Vinyl/Tape) based musicapparatus of the past, so arguably shifts power use from the home todata centres supporting libraries of downloadable content—but has theoverall result of dramatically reducing the world wide energy andresource requirement that would have previously been required to service160 m+ consumers worth of music consumption. Similar trends are likelyacross other technology categories, which may further shrink somedomestic energy requirements and shift into data centres—which arethemselves significantly investing in how to best maximize DC powerprovision to server racks, and also optimized co-location with renewablesupplies or centralized power generation.

Such Data Centre investments and new DC distribution architectures andpower conversion circuitry can also, according to the invention,translate back to distributed generation technologies at the local andstreet level to provide optimized AC/step down, and DC distribution inneighbourhoods direct to houses/residential units for suitable loads,since an average data centre server rack cabinet now consumes manymultiples of the average European household electricity load.Consequentially each server rack can be viewed loosely as equivalent toseveral houses, and several terraced streets or tower blocks asequivalent to a row of server racks. Knowledge of DC load requirements,circuit taxonomy and device type and usage, according to the invention,provide mechanisms to optimize and determine the viability of localdistributed generation capacity and DC provision for supplyingdistributed loads across houses (e.g. thin-computing, network access,media devices, LED lighting) as well as directresponse/control/balancing opportunities in overall energy management.

A key challenge to renewable integration is the trade-off andcost-benefit calculation on whether implantation makes sense,particularly with the current efficiency and cost level of certaintechnologies. Whilst remote power generation, such as coal might be 60%inefficient, with approx 5% further lost in transmission, installinglocal micro-generation (such as solar) to enable all devices to bepowered off-grid in homes, is frequently wrong on cost-benefit, due tothe high cost of generating capacity to cope with peak loads, theintermittent nature of solar, and the overall loss when inverting up toAC. In fact it rarely makes sense except for lower load DC application,where such loads should be identified and powered directly as per theinvention, without a necessity to convert to AC and down to DC again,and where such renewable implementations should be sized up to only theappropriate load levels where they make sense. Similarly some renewable,localized storage/V2G systems may make sense in a supporting role forhigh load domestic requirements or as overall local generation, butmight be ruled out on efficiency and cost terms compared to higherefficiencies at higher outputs available in some traditional centralizedpower systems.

Whilst some intelligent systems for energy management have been proposed(e.g. Gridpoint), or. those involved in direct response management, mostfocus has been on remotely controlling and shutting down these resourcesto free up available capacity for elsewhere on the network, rather thanattempts to reduce or remove such loads from the system or migrate themto appropriate DC supply or renewable sources.

A key to assessing and determining which technologies and distributionarchitecture to employs, is measuring precise information on energyusage, patterns of behaviour and circuit, device power requirements andusage, to enable an optimal balance between remote grid based power,local distributed generation and microgen supply and intelligent DCprovision in circuitry. More particularly, detailed measurement of howand what AC or high loads are used, enables opportunities to provideadvice, substitution or intelligent control to reduce their overallenergy use.

Steps have been taken towards better measurement at the household levelvia Smart Metres or AMI—Advance Metering Infrastructure, wherecommunication is embedded into a utility metre to measure/report usageat higher granularity back to the utility supplier to provideprogressively, communication to supplier systems, Automatic meterreading (AMR), more accurate/granular electronic billing as well asROC/REC environmental claims on energy savings, fault or serviceanalysis, time based tariffs, two-way communication—e.g. facilitatingsome direct response activity, or direct control (e.g. staged restartsfollowing outages). Such communication has employed numerous forms ofcommunication from proximity touch or RF technology via hand-helds ordrive by mobile systems, powerline via sending signals over the powerinfrastructure to base stations, or fixed network via antennas,collectors or repeaters (including mesh networks where metres themselvesact as repeaters—typically via wireless protocols such as Zigbee, ormobile phone networks).

Systems also exist to provide such overall usage data back to consumersin intervals or real-time, either by local displays connected directlyvia powerline or local communication means to the meter, or via webaccess and live data updates from real-time monitoring by the energysupplier (GE example), but more typically through independent devicesgenerally comprising of a current sensor attached onto mains cables fromthe utility metre (e.g. Sentec GB0207383.1), a local communication meansand a consumer device/display, set-top box or computer, where usage datais typically shown in an estimated energy cost, unit cost, orenvironmental measure (e.g. estimated C02 emissions). Some devicescapture/store information enabling comparison or provide a live or batchlink to a computer resource to enable more analysis. Few provideinformation other than crudely, or in aggregate on how the energy isbeing consumed, however the portable nature of many displays does enableconsumers to walk around and see the impact of turning/on or off someappliances to see the corresponding change in real-time energy use, thatsupports education/awareness benefits to consumers. Other systems relyon sensors in each circuit or switch (e.g. Deep Stream), adaptors/plugs,that can capture the usage of the device connected to the plug, or highcost systems involving multiple sensors in sockets/devices andappliances communicating via wireless protocols, powerline or othermeans. However, the invention provides improvements in monitoring andsensor architecture, benefits of segmenting and leveraging selectivesensors—e.g. embedded in individual or primary circuit breakers(RCD/MCB) at the fuse box level, analysis and disaggregation of load,device inference, software monitoring, phase interference, calibration,and other means in combination, or with correlation with other utilityusage measurement. The invention provides measures to recognize andovercome different consumer change psychology that has prevented pastrenewable installations and energy changes being effective in realsituations.

Despite the substantial and numerous prior art and abundance ofindividual power technologies, renewable technologies and sensingapparatus, few address the problems outlined here or provide thebenefits of an overall integrated approach to providing hybrid AC/DC,and variable voltage and end point conversion, ease of installation intoan established environment and inclusion of micro and suitablerenewables, and overall sensing apparatus, inference and deductions saidarchitecture and systems allow to enable change and savings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION(S)

According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, there is providedsystems, devices and methods for the efficient use of utilities, moreparticularly to the distribution and provision of electricity supply atappropriate voltages, monitoring and usage by end devices, and tofacilitating consumers in changing their energy usage behaviour, and toadopt and easily install appropriate sustainable, energy efficient orrenewable technologies.

Said end devices include traditional electric or electronic appliancesrequiring AC and DC power provision. Many appliances—e.g. portabledevices, consumer electronics and emerging LED/OLED lighting, requirelow load or low voltage DC power and as such require dedicated AC/DCconverters to connect to traditional supplies. In accordance withaspects of the invention there is provided an Energy Environment (EE)where building fuse boxes (consumer units), wiring/power circuitry,sockets and switches, may selectively include; more efficient AC/DCpower conversion, sensing apparatus, sub circuits of localized DC powernetworks, DC power servers or sockets, and capability to providevariable or appropriate voltage levels to sub circuits or said enddevices or in combination with intelligent plugs or micro adaptors for aspecific voltage, and means to simplify the installation and control ofsuch components and said devices within the energy environment, andmeans of integrating appropriate alternate forms of said electricityprovision such as micro-generation, local energy storage (e.g. vehiclebatteries) or neighbourhood renewable supply and to enable their controland connection to suitable end loads within in the energy environment.

Said energy usage, in accordance to further aspects of embodiments ofthe invention forming an Energy Monitoring Environment (EME) beingmeasurable by software means, via communication with said DC powerservers/converters or by said sensing apparatus that may selectivelyattach or embed sensors, circuitry and communication in utility metresor overall fuse box level, or in circuit breakers, RCD's (residualcurrent devices), switches, sockets, storage, fuses, plugs or enddevices, to provide real time energy data at the overall load, circuitlevel or appliance/device level; or through signal processing oralgorithmic means disaggregate a measured overall or circuit level loadsfor current and phase change analysis to enable appliance inference anddevice usage monitoring, routine and unusual or new behaviour, faultdetection, and overall wiring circuit topography inference mapping andload distribution. Where said analysis may for example infer individualdevices by measuring current load/magnitude or identifying unique powersignatures or profiles as types of appliances turn on/off or are in use,or where segmented within a circuit level measurement, or by comparisonagainst an established database, learned behaviour, consumer interviewor peer group comparison, or via a trained neural network algorithmicmodel, or convolution of a simulated model and comparison. Where saidanalysis may optionally be further calibrated to provide a highermonitoring and detection accuracy resolution via measuring referencedevices on the circuits, or with reference to periodically placing AC orother signals onto the power circuits within the Energy Environment(e.g. where a high frequency AC signal is placed and phased in a manneras to be measurable, interfere or suffer interference with certain loadspikes or characteristics of end devices)

Said data on energy, appliance and device usage being useful tofacilitate efficiency gains in accordance with further aspects of theinvention providing an Energy Change Environment (ECE), for examplethrough; effective information display and pricing—and provision ofdynamic or selective control means or advice on outputs such as computersoftware or web pages, TV set-top box outputs or remotes, portabledisplays, mobile phones or utility statements; as well as communicationand reporting to stakeholders or implementing billing variations;psychological profiling/scoring of such energy and device use optionallyaided by surveys to enable a consumer or household energy usage orchange Type to be determined; learning behaviour of routine and unusualuse patterns to generate advice and recommendations (e.g. hotwater/heating/lighting adjustment times), or savings illustrations basedon peer comparison and scoring; intelligent control opportunities toswitch off or minimize wasted uptime, or dynamically control integratingrenewable or storage supplies at the appropriate circuit and devicelevel; reporting and tracking savings impact (for example to enableROC/REC environmental credits). Said appliance/device level use andcontextual behaviour data enables precise targeting or brokering tothird-party sponsors or stakeholders of appropriate advice, adverts orcross sell product opportunities as well as algorithmic modelling of thebenefit case, for example over further intelligent control devices or DCpower server applications, LED/OLED solutions, kitchen appliances,outsourced services, or advice on product substitution (e.g. for washingappliances enabling a cross sell of a lower temperature washing powderbased on usage observation). Where said recommendations may also bescored and profiled based on their take-up and actual measured energysavings impact in real world situations by consumers, together with Peergroup commentary and feedback, and thereby selectively made available toconsumers or through a green search tool. Said overall usage data andcircuitry knowledge also enabling identification of prospects forretro-fitting, future fitting, or migration paths for renewableinstallations (and workflow/model of potential installation cost andcomplexity) for changing and improving the Energy Environment such asthrough migrating entire circuits at the central fuse box level, or roomloops to low power DC supply and devices, localizing Plug/Playmicro-generation opportunities, or integrating suitable energy efficientproducts and solutions.

In accordance with preferred aspects of the invention, the combinationof the Energy Environment EE, Energy Monitoring Environment EME, EnergyChange Environment ECE and interaction between said parts, act toprovide real-time measurements, advice and education, advertisements andrecommendations, dynamic control and actions, to directly reduce energyuse or enable migration towards a more efficient use of energy, andinclude preferred elements such as a Home Energy Server (HES), ZoneEnergy Module(s) (ZEM), Light Switch Socket Unit(s) (LSSU), LocalRenewable Supply (LRS), wiring circuitry, end devices, sensor apparatus,consumer display(s), local and remote communications and Remote ServerResources.

Where said circuitry in preferred embodiments may then be split into ahybrid AC/DC circuit network by placing power control devices such asthe Home Energy Server (HES), Zone Energy Module(s) (ZEM), Light SwitchSocket Unit(s) (LSSU), Local Renewable Supplies (LRS) at appropriatestages on the circuits between a fuse box and sensing apparatus and enddevices, depending on the overall load usage and downstream powerrequirements of circuits and end devices. Where said DC sub-circuitssupport a variable DC voltage and are preferably mediated and monitoredby a Home Energy Server (HES) which may selectively via a Power ControlModule incorporate supply from efficient mains AC/DC power conversion,local renewable sources or Storage means directly or at points on thecircuits, and may vary the overall voltage and load on the circuitdepending on the end load requirements (and also preferably provideappropriate power to a plurality of connectors), and where a pluralityof further power modules such as Light Switch Socket Units, Zone EnergyModules, or certain end devices are installed on the variable voltage DCcircuit and are tolerant to said variable DC voltage input, and arethemselves capable of an internal power conversion to provide furtherdownstream end devices with an appropriate required voltage and current.Wherein said overall variable voltage and load may be preferablyminimized within the overall Energy Environment by means of the EnergyMonitoring Environment establishing a pattern and expected requirements.

Where in a preferred embodiment said internal power conversion isachieved by means of a power delivery control module, capable ofreceiving a variable voltage input, communications, and providing anappropriate output voltage and current to connector sockets capable ofaccepting standard connectors or providing a voltage and currentdependent on parameters of an external intelli-plug. Where said socketin a preferred embodiment is a hybrid socket that can mechanicallyaccept a standard connector (such as preferably as USB 2.0 or USB 3.0plug), whilst at the same time also have the ability to support analternate plug referred in this description to as an intelli-plug,having an alternate form such as a cross shaped plug supporting acentral horizontal connector with the same dimensions as a USB plug, andadditional vertical prongs and pins (that would prevent connecting thisto a USB socket). Where said intelli-plug preferably supports resistorswith specific values between data pins corresponding to USB 3.0 datapins, that can be detected as parameters by said power delivery controlmodule socket in order to enable the power delivery control module toprovide the requested voltage and current through the socket to theintelli-plug.

Where in a preferred embodiment said power device ZEM is capable ofreceiving and converting an AC mains supply, and said ZEM and LSSUdevices support a plurality of said connector sockets, and said devicesare capable of incorporating an intermittent local renewable or storagesupply directly or via said connector sockets, and providing saidconnectors with a standard voltage for standard external connectors(being a USB 2.0, or USB 3.0 in a preferred configuration) or a specificvoltage and current requested by means of the resistor parameters in aconnected intelli-plug.

Where in a preferred embodiment said LSSU can preferably re-use existinglighting circuit wiring and Light switch panels that have beendisconnected from the original AC supply or fuse box circuit, and nowreceive a variable voltage DC supply mediated by a HES device, and saidLSSU are capable of adaptation by interchanging a Light Switch SocketModule (LSSM) on the face panel, where in preferred embodiments saidLSSM may include a plurality of said intelli-plug sockets, or alternatesockets such as a regular USB, or Ethernet socket when combined withcommunications (such as wireless, Zigbee or Powerline by example), or around 9 v or other voltage round pin connector, or may selectivelyinclude a display, lighting control switches, or inverter apparatus, andin preferred embodiments of the overall Energy Environment receivingnearby input connections from local renewable micro or mini generators.Where said generators are in preferred embodiments plug and play devicesthat can be easily installed.

Where in a preferred embodiment said Zone Energy Module may be combinedwith LSSU modules to enable a room or zone to be disconnected from an ACsupply and connected to a variable voltage DC supply, and power a rangeof end devices. Where in an example embodiment this may be applied to abathroom where the ZEM may be combined with a ceiling speaker and lightunit, lighting and an extractor fan unit, together with a LSSU controland sockets for additional devices, and to a shaver point.

Where in preferred embodiments of said overall Energy MonitoringEnvironment the sensing apparatus comprises at least one overall loadsensor at the fuse box or smart metre level, and at least one Circuitbreaker supporting an embedded sensor capable of measuring andcommunicating the real-time current through the circuit, and said HomeEnergy Server supports communication and software means of developingdatabases of information and comparing such signals and identifying byvarious alternate local or remote analysis means, infer end appliancesand devices, and to use said inference to provide dynamic feedback intoadjusting or optimizing parts of the variable voltage network anddevices, or to provide advice and cross sell opportunities. Where in afurther preferred embodiment said inference may be aided with saidcircuit breaker sensor placing a reference AC signal onto the circuit orvia a calibrator unit elsewhere on the network, in order to create ameasurable phase, noise interference or other measurable current changeto facilitate device identification.

Where in preferred embodiments cross sell opportunities for advice andproducts, may include recommending further changes to the EnergyEnvironment or provision of renewable supplies, or substitution of enddevices for more efficient products, or recommendations by means ofdisplays and comparisons, or suitable alternate products (e.g. forexample energy efficient cooking apparatus, lower temperature washingpowders, low energy light bulbs, boiler controls, additional sensors,insulation, etc)

Where in further features of the invention various preferred embodimentsof solar, wind, piezo/thermal electric generator devices may beselectively included into the Energy Environment, which may for exampleinclude simple plug an play mechanisms to install solar devices around awindow frame, such as a solar film rollable blind, that may preferablybe deployable under automated controls, or forms of Venetian blind thatcan be physically attached to the inner or outer window frames andsupporting solar film or solar panel strips, or where said shutterframes can support traditional solar panels, or methods of incorporatingsolar tiles onto a wall or roof, or where wind renewable generators maybe connected to walls, roofs, or external extractor fan vents on wallsor roofs, or to air conditioning/HVAC units, providing supplementarypower for such units or intermittent power onto said variable voltage DCcircuits via LSSU or ZEM modules or to a central building renewablecontrollers.

Whist preferred embodiments of the inventions have been described withpre-dominant reference to the provision and management of electricity,it should be appreciated that aspect of the Energy Environment,Measurement Environment and Change Environment can be applied to theefficient provision and supply of other utilities, for example to gas orwater provision, usage monitoring to enable education and advice,cross-selling, efficiency or conservation choices and solutions. Inparticular aspects of the sensing apparatus, and inference methods couldapply to measuring resource loads, and time usage patterns, to enableindividual devices on a water distribution circuit (household pipes), tobe measured and identified—e.g. taps, sinks, showers, bath-tubs,toilets, washing machines and dish washers, based on measurement offlow, identifying pressure change or quantized usages of water,frequency and time of use, wasteful use or faults, and identifybehaviour patterns and opportunities for improvement.

Data usage analysis also being useful to feedback to consumers or usedin conjunction with overall electricity use data to enable bettercustomer profiling and change opportunities, for example to providedynamic control or automatic scheduling of hot-water and heatingelements, or provide correlating data to calibrate or validateelectricity inference of end device usage such electric shower, washingmachine and dish-washers, to enable said energy loads to be removed froman overall electricity load measurement to enable greater resolution inidentifying lower energy loads, or reported to customers in displaysthat identify and communicate the essential elements corresponding totheir overall utility bills for electricity, gas and water use.

Similarly scheduling aspects concerning intelligent triggering ofboilers, heating, and washing devices may be optimized from observingand measuring overall behaviour, or from direct correlations—such astime between an alarm clock dynamic trigger, light on event and need forheat or hot water, or before accessing computing equipment (e.g.enabling opportunities to say automate booting a computer, broadbandrouter at the point of expected need). Other aspects of the overallmeasurement environment through combining multiple utility knowledge canenable entire patterns of behaviour—for example waking, washingshowering vs. bathing, cooking, departure or home activities, to beanalysed through water, gas, electricity consumption patterns, withinference identification of devices in use, and potentially products, toenable usage of said data for advice or brokering of said data to thirdparties for related cross promotion or product offers (e.g. to thirdparties cost offsetting to substitute more efficient products andservices).

Similarly invention aspects over integration of local renewable sourcescan apply to water system and particularly hot water distribution, sinceheat exchangers, thermo-electric or other means could be connected toconvert excess heat into electricity for supply into DC circuit loops orstorage devices. Said waste heat gathering opportunities also exist byidentifying unused water potential, boiler storage tanks or from directscavenging of cooking apparatus from either general usage monitoring, ordirect communication from control devices over boilers, electrical orgas based cooking apparatus in homes. Solar renewable devices may alsobe integrated into an Energy environment, such as solar thermal tubes orexternal ‘Venetian style’ shutters according to the invention contain athermal tube loop for warming water supply into a storage tank orimmersion heater providing an aesthetic renewable installation close toa potential application.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the invention there is provideda method of installing a energy management and power provisioning systemas described above to form an Energy Environment (EE), comprising usingexisting household power circuitry wiring by disconnecting circuits(such as lighting circuits) from an AC mains supply or consumer unit(fuse box) and connecting said circuits to a power control device suchas a Home Energy Server (HES) or Zone Energy Module (ZEM), to provide aDC sub-circuit, and to replace at least some of existing household lightswitch units with Light Switch Socket Units (LSSU) to provide local DCconnector sockets, and to replace light sockets with low power DClighting such as LED or OLED lights.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the invention, there isprovided a solar photo-voltaic local renewable supply (LRS) arranged tobe capable of being installed in or on the outside of a window or windowframe, and provide a DC power supply to a power control device (such asa Light Switch Socket Unit (LSSU), Home Energy Server (HES) or ZoneEnergy Module (ZEM)) or to a battery storage unit, or other end devices.

The solar photo-voltaic unit may comprises photo-voltaic material andelectronic circuitry and being one of; a flexible solar film and formingan overall roll-a-blind or roman blind assembly for mounting inside awindow frame; a slatted venetian blind shutter structure for mounting onthe inside or outside of a window frame, and optionally supportingswivel mechanisms to enable slats to rotate to an optimal placement andhinging or sliding mechanisms to enable the shutters to be opened; ashutter that acts as a vertical or horizontal sun shield when mountedadjacent to the window; a solid panel mounted or hung from a windowframe at a suitable angle; where said forms may optionally supportbiasing or deployment means to optimize angles for capturing solarenergy or for automated deployment when rooms are not in use.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the invention, there isprovided software means and methods for primary components of saidenergy management and power provisioning system, or computing apparatusor remote server resources for supporting the analysis, deviceinference, communication, control, reporting, display, maintenance andupgrading, of instances of energy management and power provisioningsystems as described above, in a plurality of locations, homes andoffices.

The electronic circuitry and schemas for an energy management and powerprovisioning system may be as described in the application herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, including selectively:electronic circuitry for communication, power management, aggregatingand integrating different power supplies, controlling and mediating avariable DC network, power delivery module circuitry for receiving avariable voltage input and providing an appropriate output voltage andcurrent dependent on parameters, circuitry to determine said parameterswhere resistors are placed between data-pins within a connector format,embedded sensor circuitry for monitoring voltage, current and phasecharacteristics within a circuit breaker, or providing an ACinterference signal.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the invention, there isprovided a wind powered local renewable supply (LRS) capable of beingmounted on a wall, window, roof or vent structure, and being formedselectively as: a transparent apparatus; fixable to a extractor fan orbathroom vent; extractor fan and wind power device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and together with the detailed description serve toexplain principles of embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates a high level schematic of elements of the “EnergyEnvironment” (EE), “Energy Monitoring Environment” (EME) and “EnergyChange Environment” (ECE) provided in accordance with a preferredexample/embodiment if this invention, included a Home Energy Server(HES), Zone Energy Module (ZEM), Light Switch Socket Unit (LSSU), LocalRenewable Supply (LRS), wiring circuitry, end devices, consumer display,local and remote communications and Remote Server Resources;

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed schematic of a Home Energy Server (HES)integrated within an indicative Home—Energy Environment (HEE) buildingwiring comprising a renewable or AC mains supply, sensors, various AC orDC sub-circuits and various ZEM, LSSU, LRS convertor, control or supplyelements together with end AC and DC devices;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of a Home EnergyServer (HES) connected to a Local renewable supply and storage,mediating a variable DC power circuit supplying a plurality of LSSU,ZEM, storage and end devices, and receiving an intermittent renewable,storage or AC/DC converted supply;

FIG. 4 shows an example Home Energy Server (HES) in 3D (FIG. 4A), sides(4B) and Plan view (4C), including a plurality of input/outputconnections, removable portable charger unit and display;

FIG. 5 shows an example Power Control Module for a Home Energy ServerHES (or Zone Energy Module—ZEM) capable of receiving an AC or DC wiringinput or from a LRS, a storage device, and capable of mediating andproviding a variable output voltage to a series of connectors or DCpower circuit loop;

FIG. 6 shows an example Zone Energy Module hub in plan (6B), side view(6C) and 3D view (6A) capable of receiving an AC mains, or DC input froma Home Energy Server, or renewable source and providing output voltagesto a series of end devices, including a Light Switch Socket Unit;

FIG. 7 shows an example installation of a Zone Energy Module incombination with an example ceiling light/speaker unit, lighting, andextractor/wall unit, and indicative thermo-electric renewable supply;

FIG. 8 shows an example variable voltage Light Switch Socket Unit (in 3D8A, face view 8B and side view 8C) together with example Light SocketModules supporting sockets for connecting a voltage selectorintelli-plug (FIG. 8D) or standard format connector (FIG. 8E);

FIG. 9 shows an example Power Delivery Module for a Light Switch SocketUnit or ZEM capable of receiving a variable voltage input,communications, and providing an appropriate output voltage dependent onparameters of an external intelli-plug or to standard connectors;

FIG. 10 shows components of a sensing apparatus around a fuse box withinthe Energy Monitoring Environment. FIG. 10A shows an indicativereal-time measurement for usage and appliance inference analysis 10Bshows an example sensor arrangement within a Energy MonitoringEnvironment, comprising an overall system load sensor and at least oneSub-circuit load sensor (in this example embedded in a RCD, MCD unit).FIG. 10C shows an example MCD circuit sensor (CBS), and FIG. 10D showsan example RCD sensor;

FIG. 11A shows indicative circuit schematics for communicating CircuitBreaker Sensors capable of self power by energy scavenging,communicating, measuring a load or placing a reference signal onto thecircuit, and FIG. 11B shows an indicative embedding of said circuitryinside or within the side panels of an indicative circuit breaker;

FIG. 12 shows an indicative combination of the Energy MonitoringEnvironment via the Home Energy Server element of the Energy Environmentinvolved in enabling the Energy Change Environment to communicate athird-party recommendation to a Customer Display, relating to usage ofKitchen apparatus;

FIG. 13 shows indicated examples of solar based Local Renewable Suppliescapable of being installed in or on the outside of a window or windowframe, and connected to a Light Socket Module or ZEM, along with anexample mechanical or potential energy micro generator.

FIG. 13A shows an example solar blind in a storage position, and FIG.13B said solar blind deployed, FIG. 13C shows an example solar ‘Venetianblind style’ window shutter, FIG. 13D shows an alternate shutter open,and FIG. 13E a more traditional solar panel attached to a window;

FIG. 14 shows indicated examples of wind based Local Renewable Suppliescapable of being installed on a wall or roof and connected to a ZEM orhouse renewable controller, FIG. 14A shows an example hybridsolar/wind/storage cell, FIG. 14C shows an example wind micro generator,FIG. 14B shows said wind device attached to a wall, and FIG. 14D examplesolar tiles; and

FIG. 15 shows an example stacking of a modular HES casing with a storageunit, and a removable Portable Charge Unit shown to be charging anexample portable end device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings herein:

Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a high level schematic of elements ofthe Energy Environment (EE) 100 configured as a Home Energy Environment(HEE) 101, Energy Monitoring Environment (EME) 102 and Energy ChangeEnvironment (ECE) 103, where said HEE 101 includes power devices 59 suchas a Home Energy Server (HES) 1 for efficient AC/DC provision from amains supply 44 or from integration of a local renewable 45, or a ZoneEnergy Module (ZEM) 24, or Light Switch Socket Units (LSSU) 22 withintegral Lighting Switch Modules (LSM) 60 which is shown in receiving aninput from a local renewable source 45 being a deployed Solar Blind 57in this example. Where the HES 1 is shown supporting a Portable ChargerUnit (PCU) 37, a Display 2 and containing communication means, usageanalysing software 170 and power control module 38 and physicallyconnecting via side-panels 61 and plurality of sockets 62 to cables 48powering end devices (e.g. a Laptop 8 in this example), and circuitwires 47 to a LSSU 22 and Zone Energy Module 24; and said HES 1 is showncommunicating wirelessly 157 or by other means to utility metres 5 andsensors 6 connected to fuse box 3 with embedded Circuit Breaker Sensors46, or to calibrating devices 39 within the Energy MonitoringEnvironment 102; and exchanging usage information via networks 158 toremote resources 53 such as a remote server resources or databases 54,utility systems 55 or third party recommendation systems 56 to showinformation, feedback or advice via local consumer displays 159 being amobile phone 11 in this case, or to a HES 1 display 2 within the EnergyChange Environment 103. Where said Zone Energy Module 24 is illustratedas connected to low energy lighting 23, further LSSU's 22 powering inthis case example low power DC devices such as a digital radio 10, orother general devices 63 or to supplement with power contribution from alocal mini-generator wind device 58.

Referring now to FIG. 2 which shows a more detailed schematic of a HomeEnergy Server (HES) 1 integrated within an indicative Home EnergyEnvironment (HEE) 101 largely comprising of boiler 40 and hot/cold waterpiping and heating system; electrical building wiring 43 capable ofreceiving high load electrical supply from an AC mains 44 monitored by aUtility Metre 5 or by a Smart Metre 4 or provided via a renewablecontroller 50 with power from local distributed generation or a highload micro-generator 161, electrical output from a CHP boiler 40 or aelectrical vehicle 28 storage or fuel cell device 36 via a vehiclecharge cable 30 and vehicle charge control station (VCSS) 27 (that mayalso be connected to a remote server resource 54 for direct response orremote load balancing control), which provides overall power todistribute via a fuse box 3 through circuit breakers 46 to a pluralityof wiring circuits 43, which in preferred embodiments may then be splitinto a hybrid AC/DC circuit network by placing power devices 59 atappropriate stages on the circuits between the fuse box 3 and the enddevices depending on the overall load usage and downstream powerrequirements of circuits and end devices, or in combination withidentifying and substituting end devices for low load energy efficientdevices, or including local renewable resources 45 onto said circuitnetwork 43. Where said circuits 43 connect to switches and AC sockets 51to power a plurality of AC end devices (which may have embeddedtransformers or AC/DC converters) such as incandescent or CFL lights 26,kitchen appliances 52; such as a Cooking apparatus 35, Washing or DryerMachine 13, Dishwasher 14, Fridge Freezer 15, Kettle 16 or personaldevices such as a hair dryer 18 or Computer Desktop 19 or entertainmentdevices such as a media devices (e.g. Video/Games/DVD) 20 or TelevisionDisplays 17 or general end devices 21, or devices such as an LCD Display49 connected via traditional external AC/DC adaptors 70.

Where said wiring circuits 43 may also connect to power devices 59 suchas a Home Energy Server 1 or Zone Energy Modules 24 which both act toconvert and control voltages to provide DC power to further downstreamsub-circuits 47 or to Light Switch Socket Units (LSSU) 22 or dedicatedsockets 31, powering end DC devices such as LED lighting 23, and mayalso supplement with power provided from a local micro renewable supply(LRS) 45 such as a Solar Panel 25 or Wind 34 micro-generator, or from anelectrical storage device 42. Where said power devices Home Energy 1 orZone Energy Module 24 contain power control modules 38 and 32 that canconvert an input AC signal to a desired output DC signal, or canrecognize and receive an input DC signal in the event that upstreamcircuitry 43 contains a similar power device and has already convertedthe circuit, with said Home Energy Server 1 includes software 170, aportable charger unit (PSU) 37, a consumer display 2, and is shown asillustration powering via direct cables 48 a plurality of low to mediumDC loads such as a Laptop 8, a wireless broadband router 9, dab radio10, a mobile phone 11, MP3 speakers 12, and a Portable charger unit 37(removed from its docking charge station on HES 1) is further shown inisolation providing power to another mobile phone device 11.

FIG. 2 also showing components of the Energy Monitoring Environment(EME) 102, generally comprising of software 170 and analysis performedon the HES 1 with network access 158 to a remote resources 54,55,56 on aweb network 53, overall smart metre 4 or current sensor 6 and circuitbreaker sensors 46 segmenting specific circuits, boiler sensor 41providing heat or water usage data, data feeds from Zone Energy Modules24, or usage of said Light Switch Socket Units 22, and power loadinformation of renewable sources 45, and additionally sensor unit 39that may in an embodiment act to provide a reference calibration signal,such as by providing a repetitive signal or phasing through a highfrequency AC signal on the network that acts to interfere or produce ameasurable response when certain device loads (e.g. from 13-20, 35, 70,49) are added or removed.

Said overall hybrid AC/DC circuit network being designed, mapped throughEME 102 analysis, or modified based on inference and usage dataanalysis, to minimize AC/DC power conversion losses across the circuitsand in end devices, enable micro, mini or energy scavenging renewabledevices to be easily connected at appropriate local points to supplementand provide DC power to appropriate devices, to reduce the need forbulky adaptors/AC plugs, enable more rapid integration of low energydevices such as LED lighting, provide intelligent and dynamic control toreduce energy load or wasted device time, and provide monitoring meansto enable usage and behavioural patterns to be tracked and analysed andprovided to recommendations engines for third party device/productcross-selling or advice consistent with increasing energy efficiency orreducing utility cost.

Referring now to FIG. 3 which shows a preferred embodiment and a keycentral component of the Home Energy Environment 101 being a Variable DCvoltage loop (VDC) 47 monitored/mediated by a Home Energy Server 1 withpower circuitry 38, and connecting to a plurality of power devices 22,24, renewable 45 or storage 42 units, and end low load DC devices e.g.23, 8, 10, where said network is capable of supporting a voltage withina range (in a preferred embodiment allowed to vary between 12 v and 24 vat between 0 and 5 amps), and said end devices are tolerant to voltagevariations (for example next generation LED lighting), or are providedtheir voltage conversion in power device sockets on 1, 22, 24 containingpower control modules 32, 38, which may convert voltages depending onend load requirements determined by means of load identifiers in endconnectors or intelliplugs 85. Where said HES 1 may convert AC supplypower from circuits 43 efficiently via a high spec AC/DC converter orwirelessly communicate and control AC/DC converters 171 connected to thesame or other Variable DC Voltage loops 47, or may supplement with localstorage 42 (or enable excess power to be harvested from the Variablenetwork (VDC) 47 to charge said batteries when not required), or fromrenewable sources 25. Where said Variable DC Voltage loop (VDC) 47 isillustrated with additional distributed storage 42, renewable micro wind34 and solar 25 generation resources that provide supplementary poweronto the network via cables 69 to plugs on Light Switch Socket Units 22,which is illustrated providing power to end loads via intelliplugs 85 orconnections into Light Switch Socket Units 22 and Zone Energy Modules24, which might re-use existing AC lighting circuits and light switches71 by disconnecting original AC 3 amp lighting circuits 43 andconnecting directly as a HES 1 or ZEM 24 output circuit.

A central principle of the HEE 101 environment being a step-wise, andretro-fit approach to energy efficiency and low load DC deviceinstallation as more lower power DC, cost efficient end devices andsolutions become available or as more local renewable capability 45becomes cost effective and viable and added to the Home EnergyEnvironment 101. For illustration as a first stage a lightingsub-circuit in a room may be converted by an electrician to DC byinstalling a ZEM 24 to provide efficient AC/DC conversion from a mainscircuit 43, to a plurality of new light fittings 23 or by fittingspecial LED retrofit lamps into original AC lighting sockets (or byremoving original inefficient AC/DC converters at the light level andchanging original low voltage lights to lower voltage LED or otherenergy efficient lighting). At a second later stage the whole room mightbe converted into a Variable voltage DC network by disconnecting the ACsupply further ‘upstream’ at the room junction level by further ZEM 24installation or connection of the wiring to a HES 1 device, where atthis stage existing light switches are either retained or replaced withLight Switch Socket Units 22 supporting additional output sockets 62 forintelliplugs 85 or other low voltage connectors (such as USB 86), whereany downstream ZEM 24 units are capable of continued operation by virtueof being already able to handle either a AC or DC input, andconsideration may be made by analysis within the ECE (103) oropportunities taken to install further micro or mini renewable sources45 due to ease or proximity to existing wiring or input sockets 62 onLSSUs 22. Overall load usage, mapping, device inference within theEnergy Monitoring Environment 102 may enable the Energy ChangeEnvironment 103 to determine that an entire circuit from the fuse box 3,and Circuit Breaker Sensor 46 level may be possible to convert to aVariable Voltage DC network 47, by disconnecting the circuit directly atthe fuse box 3 level, and reconnecting to a HES 1 as DC or to localrenewable controller 50 capable of outputting DC.

Furthermore software means or remote utility systems 55 of said ECE 103may pre-model the complexity, and cost/benefit of such a change, as wellas the workflow and time/material involved to facilitate and schedulesuch a change, including identifying any end devices requiring specialattention—such as might be needed for an existing extractor fan 77 orshaver point 81 in a bathroom, which might be preferably be substitutedwith a DC based extractor fan or combined with a wind mini renewablesupply 150, or by suitable intelliplug sockets 62 (e.g. for electrictoothbrushes), or retained via alternative means such as a tricklecharge unit and inversion/rectifier modules. Where planned changes canalso be simulated in the ECE 103 and validated with reference tohistoric usage and consumer behaviour data.

Referring now to FIG. 4 which shows an example of a central key powerdevice 59—the Home Energy Server (HES) 1 in 3D profile FIG. 4A, SideView FIG. 4B and Plan view FIG. 4C, which performs a plurality of roleswithin the Home Energy Environment (HEE) 101, from mediating/controllingand connecting to Variable DC power loops 47, providing centralefficient AC/DC power conversion from a mains supply connected via 65 orcontrolling wirelessly AC/DC converters elsewhere on the network, andmanaging/integrating local renewable supplies 45 or back up power orstorage 42 of surplus power on the network, providing a plurality ofconnections 62, 64 and intelliplugs 85 cable, and playing a central partin the usage capture and analysis under the Energy MonitoringEnvironment (102) and particularly via software 170 on local deviceinference and circuit load mapping, and communications and analysisunder the Energy Change Environment (103) including facilitatingpresentation of overall data analysis, recommendations, education,advice or third party offers to local consumer displays 159, 11, or viaother means such as to set-top boxes/TV displays, or local web pages.Said HES 1, also providing means to track, record and report energysavings directly in detail or measuring adopted Energy Changes orpurchase effectiveness in actual usage, to facilitate Renewable energycredits (REC/ROC) reporting to utilities (or remote utility systems 55)and improvements to advice, and direct reporting of benefits andsavings. Where said utility reporting may be communicated via thenetwork 158, or via the smart metre 4 or street level mesh networks,Zigbee protocols or other wireless or RF communication means. Said HES 1containing circuitry and data storage, an embedded display 2 that ispreferably touch sensitive, a docking station for a Portable ChargerUnit (PCU) 37 (optionally supporting a wireless display) that may alsoprovide back-up power to the HES 1 unit, and control menu buttons 67,positioning feet 68 for stacking on accessory, and side panel 61containing a plurality of socket connections including female sockets 62for intelliplugs 85, capable of receiving a standard port such as USB2.0 or 3.0 86, input/output connections at variable voltage (e.g. in the12 v-24 v example range) 64, and a storage module connection 79, ACmains cable adaptor 65, and communication ports 66 (e.g. Ethernet). Saidaccessory modules may optionally include battery storage 78, or generalbroadband/wireless router connectivity 9, or other upgrade modules.

Said HES 1 may optionally connect to a home computer, or link toadditional software tools running on said computer or make available webpage access/control/reporting screens via a local IP address and URL, tofacilitate diagnostics, configuration and modification. Said HES 1capable of receiving firmware updates and remote management. Saidadditional tools preferably providing additional data analysis and usagemonitoring capability for user profiling—such as tracking computer andrelated accessories on/off/usage times, such as monitors, back-updrives, printers, routers, hubs, speakers, wireless devices, as well asthe patterns of use of such devices, to provide additional highresolution load analysis (and removal of said power usage signatures)from overall load disaggregation, or related efficiency advice, orprovide control options for power minimization. Said HES 1 softwaretools may also provide survey tools to enable greater validation ofinferred device and circuitry maps, additional processing power forcomplex analysis, options to add/remove new components to the powernetwork or set tolerances and default or mode based behaviour, faultanalysis, psychological profiling and survey tools on energy use andchange behaviour, additional visualizations and modelling tools toillustrate benefits or provide reference to peer group models.

Referring now to FIG. 5 which shows a functional diagram of a key PowerControl Module 38 as found in a HES 1 device, in an extended form inoverall house renewable controllers 50 or in a reduced form in ZEM 24modules, where said Power Control Modules 38 perform overall variablevoltage network control of a DC Loop 47, and mediates a range of powersupply options to convert to an output DC voltage (preferably in the12-24V range), and supports communications with other devices (e.g. aspart of the overall Energy Monitoring Environment 102) or for controlpurposes. Said module 38 receiving input power from renewables 45 suchas a solar device 25 or wind device 43 connected to sockets 64 on theHES 1, back-up AC mains supply via an AC circuit 43 and power cable tosocket 65, or from a battery storage unit 78 connect to sockets 79 onthe HES 1, and comprises circuitry that performs current protection onsaid inputs and charge circuit protection 74 and charging of saidbattery unit, Micro controller switching 72 and current sensing 73 andcombination of the various loads to produce a desired end voltage outputVout 75 and current requirement, for output ports 64, or 62 via powerdelivery modules 32, or Variable DC Loop 47. Where in a preferredembodiment said microcontrollers 72, 82 may perform an algorithm 80 thathas the step of measuring current 73 and intermittency across inputsources 64 from Solar 25 and Wind 45 and providing this through to theoutput at an appropriate voltage if it is sufficient for loads on thesystem, or a step of combining or replacing this with a local batterysource 78 that has been pre-charged preferably from said renewablesources, or from a mains supply when power unit cost is low, if that issufficient for end loads and subject to user or system parameterminimums for battery storage levels, or if insufficient balancing orreplacing with AC back-up mains power efficiently converted via ahigh-spec AC/DC converter to a preferred target output voltage. SaidPower Control Module 38 having an overall Microcontroller 82, display 2,and communication means 81 (e.g. powerline, Zigbee or other wirelessmeans) to communicate with aspects and changes within the Home EnergyEnvironment 101, and to dynamically respond to overall changes in theload requirements of the DC loop 47 or connected devices.

A particular feature of said Power Control Module 38 and resilience ofthe Variable Voltage DC (VDC) network 47, is it's tolerance for avariable range of Vout 75 voltages due to the localized step conversionin the end Power Delivery Modules 32 (FIG. 9) within the ZEM Modules 24,LSSU's 22, and HES 1 socket layer connectors 62 for intelliplugs 85, andthe ability of end intelliplugs to themselves select a voltage/currentto a desired parameter. This has the benefit of enabling the HES 1microcontroller 82 to vary the overall variable voltage level and outputcurrent requirement, based on the overall current (or expected usage)load level of end devices on the variable voltage DC network 47,dynamically in order to minimize energy loss across the environment orto preferentially leverage available renewable supplies at theappropriate level. This overall has a significant advantage of reducingthe need to maintain a high Voltage Vout 75 high load capability if enddevices do not require it, and to connect the appropriate use ofresources to the appropriate needs as well as rapidly adapt to theintermittent nature of renewable supplies.

This has further advantage when combined with larger scale renewable orhybrid systems such as CHP output (e.g. from a fuel cell electricitygeneration capability powered by a gas supply burning), or when timebased pricing is in place over overall AC supply, since adjustments canbe made to variable voltage networks, storage solutions based on dailypeak cycles of behaviour as well as on thresholds for efficient use ofmacro renewable sources.

Referring now to FIG. 6 which shows an example of a Zone Energy Module24 hub FIG. 6A connected to a range of devices, and in plan view in FIG.6B and side view in FIG. 6A, which is a reduced form of the Home EnergyServer (HES) 1. Said ZEM 24 is designed to form a sub-branch on a DCcircuit, or form a AC/DC conversion point where supplied from an ACMains, to easily integrate into a wall/ceiling and enable a room or zonelevel migration, and connect and supply a series of local end loads aswell as support connecting suitable input renewable supplies 45, wheresaid module supports communication and has control circuitry, powercontrol module 38 and selectively power delivery modules 32, but doesnot need the additional intelligence or processing, software andconnections of the HES 1. The Zone Energy Module 24 is shown receivingboth an AC supply 43 and a HES 1 variable voltage DC supply 47, andreceiving an indicative micro-wind or mechanical renewable 58 (e.g. forinclusion in a waste water system, or connected to an exercise device)renewable supply and connecting to a series of end devices such as LEDlighting 23, Light Switch Socket Unit 22 powering a digital radio 10,and a general device 63. Said module has a removable cover as cables 43,47, 48, 69 pass through slots 76 in the outer casing and may be securedinternally to appropriate connector modules, where connections may bedirect to a Variable Control Network 47 or to a Power Delivery Module 32on a Variable control network 47, or connected to a Power Control Module38, depending on the nature of the subsequent branch or end load device.

FIG. 7 shows an in-situation example of a Zone Energy Module 24 in aroom, being in this case an illustrative bathroom, where the ZEM 24 isembedded into a ceiling—for example in combination with a lighting orspeaker unit 142, and receives both a AC mains circuit 43 and optionallya DC Variable Voltage supply 47, and provides an output to a localarrangement of low power or LED lighting 23, a Light Switch Socket 22for control and additional intelliplug socket 62 availability, a wallextractor vent 77 and a hybrid shaver socket 81 supporting additionalintelliplugs, and is also optionally able to receive inputs from sameextractor vent 77 connecting via 150 to a delocalized external windgenerator 149, or to a heat energy scavenger material 78 (for example athermo-electric material), that might wrap a hot or waste water tank orpiping.

Said hybrid shaver socket 81, could optionally receive a direct AC 43circuit supply but preferably converts power provided from the DCVariable Voltage VDC 47 network for the end socket requirement,alongside an alternative low power intelliplug socket—which provides amore preferable and less cable intensive way of connecting say anappropriate electric tooth brush or shaver device. Said extractor fan 77may similarly require an AC input but is preferably a low power DCdevice. In a preferred embodiment said extractor 77 supports a storagebattery unit, and is trickle charged via the DC variable Voltage forrapid bursts of activity, or is charged by means of an external windrenewable device 149 that affixes by means of a connector 150 onto anextractor tube passing through the wall. Said extractor 77 therebyoperates independently as a renewable supply and storing power to eitherprovide a power contribution to the DC Variable voltage network whenunder utilized or a buffer of stored power for extractor fan usage, andalso in basic operation acting as an unpowered extractor when ingenerating mode.

Said thermo-electric material 78 in an example preferred embodimentbeing intelligently controlled to scavenge waste heat when the heat isno longer needed (e.g. waste water or cooking surfaces), or if excessheat was produced for an application and not used. Said overall EnergyMonitoring Environment providing cues and data based on direct sensingapparatus on water flow, or based on triage or associated usagebehaviour of electricity, hot water/boiler supplies.

Referring now to FIG. 8 which shows a Light Switch Socket Unit (LSSU) 22together with a Light Switch Socket Module LSSM 60 containing aplurality of power delivery modules 32 and intelli-plug sockets 62, 82,and showing various intelli-plugs 84, 85 and standard format connectors86 (e.g. USB). FIG. 8A shows a 3D view of the LSSU 22, FIG. 8B a faceview, FIG. 8C a side view, together with example Light Switch SocketModules LSSM 60 supporting sockets for connecting a voltage selectorintelli-plug (FIG. 8D) or standard format connector (FIG. 8E) such as aUSB plug 86 or USB connector peripherals (e.g. a USBCELL rechargeablebattery 90). Said LSSU 22 providing a convenient way to provide lightingcontrol 83 of low voltage lights on a localized Variable Voltage VDCNetwork 47 and capable of supporting interchangeable LSSM 60 units withpower delivery modules 32 powering one or more types of socket such as aintelli-plug 82 input format, intelli-plug output formats, round socket64, or optionally other formats such as Ethernet (when combined withcommunications e.g. a powerline or wireless protocol) or customadaptors, or via embedded sockets 87 that enable a fixed wiringconnection to be made into the reverse of the unit through the wall(e.g. when connecting a permanent installation such as an exterior lightor renewable source).

Said LSSM power delivery module converts the Variable DC Voltage Supplyto standard default parameters 5V, 500 mAh on the intelli-plug centralconnections or to a desired voltage and current level based onparameters encoded within the intelliplugs. Said intelliplug format in apreferred embodiment has a central form based on a USB 3.0 standardproviding 5 data/2 power pins, and additional vertical prongs on eitherthe central top 91 or the central bottom 92 or both 85, that can supportadditional data/power (and optionally mechanical release) contacts thatcan mechanically and electrically connect with corresponding pins 89 and88 recessed with the intelliplug sockets 62, 82. The physical shapeprecludes an incorrect connection and enables different types of socketsto be tasked to different functions where preferably the cross formatwith both upper and lower recesses is designated for generic input butused in full form for external power input purposes where a cable 69from a renewable supply provides power via the upper 91 and lower 92prongs to pins 89 and 88 connected in the socket to a Power DeliveryModule 32 or overall Power Control Module 38. Where the socket is Tshaped without a recess 89 it can only support output power delivery viathe central pins or the lower prong 92 and recess pin 88 (that mightpreferably provide a higher default voltage such as 12 v and have ahigher current limit) and might provide power via a cable 48 to a enddevice such as a printer of laptop device based on the intelliplugparameters, similarly when no side prongs are present the rectangularsocket can only accept a standard format USB 2.0 or 3.0 connector e.g. aUSB peripheral such as a USB charge cable for an MP3 device/phone or aUSBCELL rechargeable battery 90, or can receive an intelliplug ofsimilar physical format to provide power based on parameters in theintelliplug. Similarly an external plug might combine a multitude ofintelliplugs, to connect into two or three sockets 62 on a LSSM, toreceive a higher voltage/load than a default limit on a single socket62.

The convenience of the LSSM 22 architecture on a Variable DC (VDC)network 47 combined with embedded variable Power Delivery modules 32,and intelliplug 85 format, provides for an ability to easily connectdelocalized renewable sources close to the room or LSSM location (e.g.from a nearby window or energy scavenging device), or to connect locallya variety of low load or DC applications, and optionally to connectcommunication cables) and at the same time provide a preferred re-use ofcircuitry—such as existing 3 amp lighting circuits which have beendisconnected from an upstream AC supply at the room, or extended ZEMzone or HES 1 circuit loop level 47. Similarly the architecture providesa new build approach for installing a dedicated DC network alongside aconventional AC 13 amp socket network. A further point is aboutaccessibility—since AC sockets are historically viewed as messy, withend load devices generally being placed and fixed in location, suchsockets were generally hidden out of view or not easilyaccessible—resulting in being left on more frequently, whereas today thehigher number of devices, particularly portable devise are frequentlymoved and therefore require more accessible (and preferably smaller)connectors, a higher number of sockets and connection apparatus withless material or bulky adaptors, that can provide efficient andappropriate supply.

Referring now to FIG. 9 which shows a functional diagram of a key PowerDelivery Module 32 for embedding in a Light Switch Socket Module (LSSM)60 for intelliplug sockets 62, or selectively in a Zone Energy Module 24output connection, or for the HES 1 intelliplug 62 sockets. The primaryfunction of said module 32 is to convert the supply voltage and current(typically from a variable DC network 47) to the desired parameters ofthe intelliplug 85. This is achieved through specific parameters oridentifiers in the intelliplug, that in a preferred embodiment aredetermined by resistors for current, voltage and amplificationparameters. In the preferred embodiment of the intelliplug being basedon a central USB 3.0 bar containing 5 data pins, this could be achievedthrough resistors being placed across circuitry between the commonground data pin 162 and other data pins, such as a current set resistor104 between the common ground pin 162 and a second data pin 163, avoltage set resistor 105 between the common ground pin 162 and the thirdpin 164, and a amplification set resistor between the common ground 162and a fourth resistor 165, leaving a spare fifth data pin 166, togetherwith power pins 167 and 168 for receiving the desired voltage andcurrent 99. Where said Power Delivery Module 32 would first measurethese resistances across corresponding pins to and a common ground todetermine the current set parameter 96, voltage set parameter 97 andamplification 98 and with control via a central microcontroller 93 drivean output voltage linear regulator 95 to control the output voltage 99,with Said Power Delivery Module 32 also comprising of an input currentprotector 71 (on Variable DC circuit supply 47), current sensingcircuitry 73, a Microcontrolled switch 72, DC/DC Buck-Boost DC voltageregulator 94 and external communication 108 (such as Zigbee). Where saidmicrocontroller 93 may execute an algorithm 107 to respond dynamicallyto different resistor parameters in attached intelliplugs, and by simplyusing alternate resistor parameters in different or dedicatedintelliplugs for different devices, a plurality of different end loaddevices may be easily connected to the LSSM 60 or HES 1 sockets 62 andreceive a converted voltage to a desired level, and from a supportingVariable DC network that can vary over a range to minimize energy wasteor provide additional higher load capability when required, and betolerant to volatility in supply by intermittent renewables. Similarlyby similar use of data pins and resistor parameters various input cableintelliplugs may be configured to inform the Microcontroller of typicalload ranges, or provide additional input by means of prong 91 and pin 89direct to the Variable DC network 47.

Referring now to FIG. 10 which shows components of a sensing apparatusaround a fuse box 3 within the Energy Monitoring Environment 102. FIG.10A shows indicative real-time current measurements 113 for usage andappliance inference analysis. FIG. 10B shows an example sensorarrangement within a Energy Monitoring Environment 102, comprising autility metre 5 with display/counter 112, an overall system load sensor6 on a live wire 110 adjacent to a neutral wire 111 and at least oneSub-circuit load sensor 46 (in this example embedded in a RCD 109 or MCBunit 46). FIG. 10C shows an example MCB with embedded circuit breakersensor (CBS) 46, and FIG. 10D shows an example RCD sensor 109. Wheresaid sensors 6 or 109 are capable of monitoring the overall system load114 shown on 113 and communicating the current signal 114 as illustratedin FIG. 10A, which measures the overall impact of devices in use acrossboth the AC 43 and Variable DC 47 circuits, and also shows the loadmeasurement from an example sub-circuit CBS sensor 46, as 116, thatmight for example correspond to a high load circuit such as a kitchenwith washing and kitchen apparatus, said segmentation enabling analysisof remaining signals by removing the high load 116 signal from theoverall signal 114 to focus on medium to lower signal loads. Saidsignals changing over time to produce magnitude changes e.g. 115 thatmay be sufficient to determine unique signatures for specificend-devices on the network as they are turned on, or are in use, or areshut down, or where said signatures are learnt through neural networkalgorithmic means, through consumer survey or Peer group comparison andlook-up, through further algorithmic disaggregation means under signaltheory such as deconvolution, or through forward simulation andconvolution of a guessed or assumed appliance, or through furtherexploitation of additional data cues, from direct sensors, calibratorsensors on the network, or other sensors within the Energy MonitoringEnvironment such as on water or gas utility systems that have acorrelation to energy usage (e.g. electric showers, kettles filled uprecently with water, washing machine devices, lighting use changescorrelated with bathroom use), which enable both device inference aswell as mapping of circuit and device use across the Home EnergyEnvironment.

Said embedded circuit breaker sensor (CBS) 46 is illustrated in FIG.10C, where a live wire 110, can be interrupted by a switch 119 andoperation of a solenoid coil 117 or bi-metallic movement of a heat strip125, in the event of a short-circuit or high current draw as per normalMCD circuit breaker operation, but said circuit breaker also comprisingan embedded sensor such as a shaped current load conductor 160 arrangedto be congruent with a current flow sensor coil 118 (that may measure byinduction) arranged around the live wire 110, to provide a high accuracycurrent change measurement of the load on the 110 wire, and connected toembedded circuitry 120 that contains a communication means 122 (forexample wireless or a Zigbee protocol), a lithium cell, charge and powercontrol circuitry 124 that may preferably scavenge power by using adifferential voltage across said flow sensor coil 118 to provide powerto the circuitry 120, central microcontroller control circuitry 121(generally comprising of a CPU, Analogue to digital converter, andcircuitry to measure the AC signal quality and harmonic distortion), andmay optionally be combined with a powerline/X10 comms mechanism 123 toplace a reference signal onto the circuit 110 to provide communicationelsewhere onto the network, or to provide a high frequency signal forinterference or calibration measurement elsewhere (such as in the HES 1or End calibrator 39 sensor/signal devices). A similar embedded circuitbreaker sensor (CBS) 109 is illustrated in FIG. 10D which shows aRCD—Residual Current Device which supports a solenoid and currentoverload switch for the neutral wire 111.

Referring now to FIG. 11 which shows in FIG. 11A an indicative circuitschematics 126 and 127 for said communicating Circuit Breaker Sensors120 capable of self power by energy scavenging, and communicating,measuring a load or placing a reference signal 123 onto the circuit, andFIG. 11B shows an indicative embedding of said circuitry 120 inside orwithin the side panels (indicated by 129 face plate plastic) of anindicative standard format circuit breaker 46, which shows said livewire 110, passing through a flow sensor coil 118 congruent with a shapedcurrent load conductor 160, attached to circuitry 120, where said livewire 110 can be interrupted by a sprung switch 119 and operation of asolenoid coil 117, where said circuitry 120, may in the event of anoverload be able to provide diagnostic information relating to thecurrent prior to the over-load, or communicate fault status to a remotedevice, or provide specific analysis of which end device was inoperation prior to the over-load. Where said circuitry 120 may besuitably encapsulated or insulated from heat/spark dissipation fromsink/catcher 128, or suitably located in the outer plastic casing 129.

Referring now to FIG. 12 which shows an indicative combination of theEnergy Monitoring Environment 102 via software 170 on the Home EnergyServer 1 of the Energy Environment 101 involved in enabling the EnergyChange Environment 103 to communicate a third-party recommendation 134(a more efficient kettle in this case) via the remote recommendationengine 56 to the HES 1 and wirelessly linked Customer Display 11,relating to in this example usage of Kitchen apparatus kettle 16identified by a load spike 132 on the current sensor 46 measurement 116or via the overall current sensor 6 and measurement 116, where said loadspike signal signature 132 being sufficient to identify the nature ofthe end device 16 or by comparison with a signature database in a remoteresource 54, or deduced from a correlation of water flow measured bysensor 132 inferred to correspond to a typical quantized volume of waterfrom a tap such as 133 that might correspond to a kettle device. Saidvolume metric information of said tap usage 133 assumption, combinedwith general behaviour analysis of the HES on how many consumers areusing devices in the home, or resident in the home, may further allowthe Energy Monitoring Environment to deduce typical usage profiles ofsaid kettle 16, such as how frequently, or whether it is always filledand boiled but not used (e.g. deduced from a smaller volume of watertop-up measured prior to load spikes 132), in order to tailorrecommendation advice directly to the user—or a more relevant product(e.g. 1 cup kettle boiler—combined with a cost saving illustration basedon the observation of frequency and usage of said kettle device).Similar advanced inference is possible across a range of householddevices, from lightning, washing, cooking, media, computing and otherenergy devices. Furthermore, said Energy Change Environment may enablean overall profile and energy Type to be deduced for the user andcompared to peers via remote resources 54, or with overall models atutility systems 55, to enable changes and further related crossbrokering of third party services aggregated via a recommendationsengine 56. A central principle of said Energy Change Environment is tofacilitate recommendation of products and services that areenvironmentally friendly and serve to reduce energy or utility waste,and provide tracking and reporting information to validate that suchprojected savings are achieved in practice to enable ROC/RECenvironmental credits, or validation and scoring of the credibility ofthird party offerings. Said overall scoring providing consumers theability to search for green products and services on a preferentialbasis as well as third-parties to be made aware and take advantage fromthe overall savings impact they are enabling. Given the benefits tothird parties, such an overall Energy Change Environment may have theeffect of working as a virtuous cycle, whereby end consumers/householdsreduce their energy and utility cost and gain discountedproducts/services, energy retailers can claim the ROC/REC incentives forhelping to facilitate such transactions, and third parties can providesuch products and services direct to consumers at lower overalldistribution margin than in other channels, or with reduced marketingexpenditures given the precise targeting enabling further considerationson lower margins.

A further example illustration of the Energy Change Environment can beseen with reference to the overall current measurement 113 showing alarge generally uniform load 116 as measured on the CBS sensor 46 priorto the kettle 132 activity, which in this example relates to a usage ofa washing machine 13 with a high load electric motor, said overallenclosed volume provides an indication of the high energy run cost ofsuch an appliance. Analysis of such a profile and comparison withreference signals may enable the system to deduce the temperature of thewashing cycle (e.g. 60 degrees), and provide a recommendation of amigration to an alternate washing powder capable of the same performanceat a 30 degree temperature, and provide an illustration of the costsavings achievable by changing powder. Said information could bebrokered to third parties e.g. 135 to cross sell to the product, orprovide a discount coupon or offer to the utility company systems 55 toinclude on a future bill statement. Said overall Energy MonitoringEnvironment being able to log/track the overall consumers usage ofwashing (or other apparatus) in terms of frequency and type of use, andaggregate overall demand across other customers via the utility systems,and broker such information to suitable third parties.

Similar analysis in combination with measuring water, gas usage forcooking, washing, heating and other activities could be incorporated ina similar manner, enabling a lifestyle profile to be determined,potentially down to measuring ‘electric toothbrush’ use events, in termsof frequency, time, and duration, for precise cross marketingopportunities. Similar monitoring could also be used to determine faultyor underperforming devices, and schedule repair or maintenance activity.Similarly by correlating heating monitoring activity with electricityusage activity, advice can be given to consumers about re-programmingboilers—in the event households are not occupied, or under utilized, aswell as the option of dynamic control—e.g. by providing this advice orillustrating cost remotely to a mobile display device with the consumerto enable them to turn down or off heating capabilities, or defercontrol to the Energy Change Environment, which may have already learntbehaviour and expected routine arrival time and anticipate heatingrequirements.

Referring now to FIG. 13, which shows indicative examples of solar basedLocal Renewable Supplies 45 capable of being installed in or on theoutside of a window or window frame 143, and connected to a Light SwitchSocket Module 22 or ZEM 24, along with an example mechanical orpotential energy micro generator 158 embedded within a floor or stairssurface 157 (or for example in an exercise device or by means ofpiezo-electric coils in trampoline springs). FIG. 13A shows an examplesolar film formed into a rollable blind 57 affixed to a window frame 143and shown in a storage position, and FIG. 13B shows said solar blind ina deployed configuration capable of generating an output—where theEnergy Change Environment, might preferably have authority toautomatically deploy the blind by means of a motor 144 at suitabletimes, on a schedule, or in the absence of activity in the house or roomzone. Where said solar device 57 provides an intermittent supply to theVariable DC Voltage network 47 or to a storage device on that network,by connecting with a cable 69 to an intelliplug on a nearby Light SwitchSocket Unit 22. FIG. 13C shows a further example being a solar ‘Venetianblind’ acting as a window shutter 145 on the exterior (or interior) of awindow frame 143, where shutters 145 support photo-voltaic strips 146capable of generating power, and preferably a mechanical slide actionmeans to re-angle by 90 degrees as on regular blinds (or supportreflective means on the underside, or preferably tracking an optimal sunelevation angle), and similarly connected via a cable 69 into a nearbyLight Switch Socket Unit 22 on a variable voltage DC network 47. In afurther embodiment said Venetian shutter could contain hollow tubescapable of connecting to a household piping, providing a solar/thermalmeans of heating water to a storage tank. FIG. 13D shows an alternateshutter supporting a conventional Solar panel apparatus 148, in the openconfiguration and FIG. 13E in a closed configuration 147, wherealternatively said shutters could slide to enable a PV surface to beconstantly exposed, and again provides a ready means of installing asolar device on a wall/window and connectivity via a Light Switch SocketUnit 22 into a nearby Variable DC Voltage network 47. Said solar PV orsolar thermal Venetian blinds providing an easy means to attach arenewable device to houses, or flat/apartments without ownership/controlof the roof, and potentially an aesthetic means in the context of manycountries within communities, and act as ‘Plug & Play’ easy to installsolutions, and generally sufficient to provide intermittent DC power fordirect connectivity via the Variable Voltage DC network 47 to generalportable peripherals such as mobile phone/media chargers 11,router/wireless connectivity devices 9, or potentially additionalcomputing accessories.

Referring now to FIG. 14 which shows examples of wind based LocalRenewable Supplies capable 45 of being installed on a wall 151 or roofand connected to a ZEM 24 or house renewable controller 50, FIG. 14Ashowing an example hybrid solar/wind/storage device 152 as a form ofroof vent, which may for example contain storage cells 42, solar panellayers 146, and a wind micro-generator 149, and might further act as aroof vent/extractor in basic operation, and is shown connecting to aVariable voltage DC loop or house renewable controller 50. FIG. 14Bshows an example of said wind device 149 attached to a side wall 151,and to a wall connector 150 which might for example affix to an existingextractor fan 77 location, and also provide an extractor fan function inbasic operation. FIG. 14C shows an example of the wind-generator device149 in isolation, showing more clearly a connector 150 and cableconnection to a LSSU 24 device. Said aerodynamic blades being only toserve as illustration, but may in other embodiments be collapsible andstorable against a wall when no wind resources are available, made of atransparent material to be less obtrusive, and support at least oneaerodynamic blade. FIG. 14 D shows an example of a solar tiles 154 foraffixing to a roof or wall, that provide another example of an aestheticrenewable capable of integration into certain types of housing, andproviding power into a house renewable controller 50. The aboveillustrations and FIG. 13, showing a plurality of renewable supplies 45that might be de-localised across a household, and illustrate benefitsof connecting anywhere into nearby LSSU 22 and variable voltage DCnetwork 47, or in larger installations for connection into a centralhouse renewable controller 50.

FIG. 15 shows an example stacking of a modular HES 1 casing with abattery storage unit 79, and supporting a removable Portable Charge Unit(PCU) 37 which may optionally act as a wireless consumer display 155capable of displaying energy usage and advice/recommendations. Said PCU37 is shown in a deployed configuration charging a mobile phone device11, or capable of powering a laptop 8 type device.

Although the invention is mainly described and illustrated withreference to the described embodiments it is expressly understood thatit is in no way limited to the disclosure of such preferred embodiments,but is capable of numerous modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims. By way of examplereference is made to a HEE (Home Energy Environment) implementation ofan Energy Environment, but the same embodiments and inventions wouldapply to an Office Energy Environments, Retail Energy Environments andto larger facilities, or as guiding design and power provisionprinciples across blocks of mass housing.

1. An energy management and power provisioning system comprising atleast one or any combination of: an Energy Environment (EE) formanaging, distributing and providing electricity supply at appropriatevoltages and currents to circuits, sockets and end devices; an EnergyMonitoring Environment (EME) for monitoring and sensing energy use byend devices; and, an Energy Change Environment (ECE) for facilitatingcontrol, change, or reduction in energy usage.
 2. An energy managementand power provisioning system according to claim 1, where said enddevices selectively include electric, electronic or lighting appliancesrequiring Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) powerprovision or low voltage DC power via AC/DC converters.
 3. An energymanagement and power provisioning system according to claim 1, whereinsaid Energy Environment (EE) comprises power supplies, sockets, circuitsand power control devices, where said power supplies include power fromat least one or combination of; an external grid AC (alternatingcurrent) mains supply via a building fuse box (consumer unit), or localpower generation from local renewable supplies (LRS), or local batterystorage; and, said power control devices are placed on the circuits tointegrate and convert available power supplies and provide appropriatevoltages and currents to sub-circuits or sockets or end-devices or toform DC sub-circuits or variable voltage network where voltage can varywithin a range, where said circuits may further selectively include:efficient AC/DC convertors; solar photovoltaic sources as localrenewable supplies; batteries to provide power to or store power fromsaid circuits; other sources of local renewable supply such asmicro-generation devices, energy harvesting, wind resources, largeenergy storage (e.g. vehicle batteries), or shared neighbourhoodresources; monitoring and or sensing devices; devices that controland/or switch sub-circuits or devices attached to the circuits; devicesto display the status of, and allow control of the functions availableon the circuit; devices to control and/or monitor devices connected to,or powered from a traditional AC mains supply; devices or sockets thatconvert the voltage available on the circuit to a set voltage and/orcurrent required by an end device or sub circuit; devices to monitorand/or control the voltage on the circuit; devices to monitor andoptimise the efficiency of the variable voltage network.
 4. An energymanagement and power provisioning system according to claim 1, whereinpower control devices are placed within the Energy Environment (EE), andare at least one of or combination of: a Home Energy Server (HES) as acentral unit to manage and control said power supplies, circuits,further power control devices, sockets and end devices, and provide andmediate a DC power sub-circuit or variable voltage network; a ZoneEnergy Module (ZEM) that can receive power from a DC power sub-circuitor variable voltage network, or back-up AC mains supply via an efficientAC/DC convertor or local renewable resource, and provide DC power to afurther sub-circuit or plurality of sockets or end devices; a LightSwitch Socket Unit (LSSU) that can receive power from a DC powersub-circuit or variable voltage network or local renewable resource, andcan perform a power conversion via a power delivery control module toprovide an appropriate required output voltage and current to connectorsockets to power end devices.
 5. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 1, where said connector socketsare capable of accepting and providing the appropriate voltage andcurrent to standard and/or custom connector formats, which mayselectively include: standard formats such as round pin sockets,Ethernet, Firewire, USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 plugs with standard voltagerequirements, or custom connectors, such as custom plugs, customconnector plugs resembling a standard format but supporting additionalprongs, custom connector forming a variant of a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 plugwith side prongs to fit a connector socket shaped to be both compatiblewith a regular USB plug and this variant, where said custom connectorformats support indicating means to inform the connector socket of therequired parameters for voltage and current to be provided by the powerdelivery control module, where said indicating means is achieved bymeans of either; shape, embedded chip and data communication, wirelesscommunication, side prongs and contact, circuitry or resistors ofspecific values, circuitry or resistors of specific values between datapins on standard formats such as Ethernet, Firewire, USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.6. A Home Energy Server (HES), arranged to connect to available powersupplies such as an AC mains supply, Local renewable supply orelectricity storage device, and selectively uses these supplies tomediate a variable DC power circuit supply at least one of; powerdelivery control modules and connector sockets, Zone Energy Modules andLight Switch Socket Units, to provide appropriate voltages and currentrequested by end devices; and where said Home Energy Server (HES),comprises at least some of: a casing, power supply circuit connection,connection sockets for local renewable or battery storage devices,variable DC power circuit connection, control circuitry, software means,processing means, power delivery control module devices, DC to DCvoltage conversion, plurality of connector sockets, communication means,wireless communication support, connection to remote server resources orto web pages, phone units or interactive television, communication meansto other devices on the circuits and local display units, securitymeans, consumer display, control interfaces, battery charging cradle andremovable battery unit, temperature or environmental sensors,communication means to remote energy monitoring sensors (such as smartmetres, voltage and current sensors, electricity calibration sensors,water or gas monitors).
 7. A Light Switch Socket Unit (LSSU), arrangedto receive power from a DC power supply, sub-circuit or variable voltagenetwork or local renewable resource, and with a power delivery controlmodule device perform a power conversion to provide an appropriaterequired output voltage and current to connector sockets to power enddevices; and comprising at least some of: a support casing and a facepanel, power supply circuit connection, power delivery control module,inverter apparatus, communication circuitry, communication for controlpurposes with the Home Energy Server (HES) or other devices, wirelesscommunication means, control software, lighting control switches,temperature or environmental sensors, an interchangeable Light SwitchSocket Module (LSSM) on the face panel for supporting differentcombinations of connector socket formats (such as for USB plugs, roundpin plugs, custom socket plugs) acting as power outlets for end devicesor inlets for local renewable supplies.
 8. A Zone Energy Module (ZEM),arranged to receive power from a DC power supply, DC power circuit orvariable voltage network or local renewable resource, or be placed in anexisting AC circuit to receive an AC/DC converted supply as back-up orto top up current required, and to provide a DC sub-circuit or provideappropriate voltages and current to connector sockets and end-devices;and comprising at least some of: a casing, ceiling or wall unitmounting, software control means, communication support, communicationfor control purposes with the Home Energy Server (HES) or other devices,plurality of connector sockets, connection to a Light Socket Switch Unit(LSSU), DC power circuit for network of lighting units, connections forlocal renewable resources such as a wind resource, battery storage,solar device or energy scavenging device (such as a thermo-electric heatrecovery unit), environment sensors, wireless ceiling speaker unit,combination with a ceiling or wall extractor fan, self-management meansto be able to function independently of a central Home Energy Server(HES) unit, or to recognize and dynamically adapt should an existing ACcircuit input become a DC sub-circuit.
 9. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 1, wherein said Energy MonitoringEnvironment (EME) comprises, sensing apparatus, software analysis means,communication means, reporting means, for monitoring energy usage bysaid end devices, and further comprising at least some of: sensors thattrack voltage, current or phase of electric supply; calibration sensorsthat track interference or noise on electric circuits; sensors thattrack water or gas utility use; sensors that track status of end deviceuse; sensors that track environmental properties such as temperature;communication between a Home Energy Server (HES) and power controldevices or devices on DC sub-circuits; sensing apparatus that mayselectively attach or embed sensors, circuitry and communication inutility metres or overall fuse box level; sensor apparatus in individualcircuit breakers or RCD's (residual current devices); sensors embeddedselectively in switches, sockets, storage, fuses, plugs, local renewableresources or end devices.
 10. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 9, wherein said Energy MonitoringEnvironment (EME) is arranged to provide real time energy data or energyuse over a time interval, where said data may selectively be: at theoverall load, circuit level or appliance/device level; obtained throughsignal processing or algorithmic means to disaggregate a measuredoverall or circuit level loads to enable appliance inference and enddevice usage monitoring, or through voltage, current and phase changeanalysis; tracking of routine and unusual or new behaviour e.g. faultdetection; inference of overall wiring circuit topography and mapping ofload distribution; where said inference of individual devices may befurther selectively aided through measuring current load/magnitude oridentifying unique power signatures or profiles as types of appliancesturn on/off or are in use, or where segmented within a circuit levelmeasurement, or by comparison against an established database, orthrough learned behaviour, or through consumer interview or peer groupcomparison, or via a trained neural network learning algorithmic model,or through convolution of a simulated model and comparison with measureddata.
 11. An energy management and power provisioning system accordingto claim 9, wherein said Energy Monitoring Environment (EME), saidcalibration sensors are arranged to provide a higher monitoring anddetection accuracy resolution with reference to at least some of:measuring reference devices or loads on the circuits; correlation withevents captured on the Home Energy Server); correlation with otherutility usage monitoring (e.g. measuring water or gas use); periodicallyplacing AC or other signals onto the power circuits within the EnergyEnvironment; periodically placing a high frequency AC signal and phasedin a manner as to be measurable, interfere or suffer noise interferencewith certain load spikes or characteristics of end devices; correlatingsuch interference with light switch events or lighting types to infer alighting topology—such as estimated number of lights, or lightingcircuit branches.
 12. An energy management and power provisioning systemaccording to claim 9, wherein said Energy Monitoring Environment (EME),said sensing apparatus is arranged to be embedded inside at least one ofan RCD (Residual Current Detector) or MCB (Micro-circuit breaker) withina fuse box (consumer unit), comprising at least some of: self power byenergy scavenging; charging a battery by power from using differentialvoltage across a coil within the circuit breaker; communication bywireless means; zigbee wireless communication means; powerlinecommunication (e.g. a mainline or X10 comms protocol); control circuitryand memory; measuring a voltage, current and phase on a circuit; currentmeasurement by Shunt method; current measurement by induction;measurement of AC signal quality and harmonic distortion; placing areference signal onto a circuit; encapsulation of said circuitry orinsulation from heat/spark dissipation; encapsulation in outer plasticcasing of circuit-breaker.
 13. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 1, wherein an Energy ChangeEnvironment (ECE) helps facilitate control, change or reduction inenergy usage, by software means and using said data on energy, applianceor device use, selectively through at least some of; effectiveinformation display; analysing said data; displaying usage and pricinginformation; provision of information or selective control means onconsumer displays; said consumer displays selectively including computersoftware or web pages, TV set-top box apparatus, remote control units,portable displays, mobile phones; reporting to consumers andstakeholders on utility statements, household reports; implementingbilling variations to incentivize changes; psychologicalprofiling/scoring of such energy and device use optionally aided bysurveys to enable a household energy usage change or Type to bedetermined; learning behaviour of routine and unusual use patterns togenerate advice and recommendations (e.g. hot water, heating, lightingadjustment times if house unoccupied); savings illustrations based onpeer comparison and scoring; intelligent control opportunities to switchoff or minimize wasted energy, or dynamically control integratingrenewable or storage supplies at the appropriate circuit and devicelevel; reporting and tracking savings impact (for example to enableROC/REC environmental credits)
 14. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 13, where said appliance/deviceuse and contextual behaviour data enables at least some of; precisetargeting or brokering to third-party sponsors or stakeholders ofappropriate advice, adverts or cross sell of product opportunities;algorithmic modelling of the benefit case, for example over furtherintelligent control devices or DC power server applications, LED/OLEDsolutions, kitchen appliances, outsourced services; advice on productsubstitution (e.g. for washing appliances enabling a cross sell of alower temperature washing powder based on usage observation); scoringand profiling of said recommendations based on their take-up and actualmeasured energy savings impact in real world situations by consumers;scoring of advice and options based on Peer group commentary andfeedback; access to advice and options via an appropriate search tool;analysis of overall usage data and circuitry knowledge to helpidentification of prospects for retro-fitting, future fitting, orpotential migration paths for renewable installations;workflow/modelling of potential installation cost and complexity forchanging and improving the Energy Environment; evaluation of changessuch as migrating entire circuits at the central fuse box level, or roomlevel to low power DC sub-circuits for low power lighting and enddevices; evaluating localizing micro-generation efficiency oropportunities; analysis of integrating other suitable energy efficientproducts and solutions (e.g. insulation, extractor fans, airconditioning, heat recovery).
 15. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 1, wherein the combination of theEnergy Environment (EE), Energy Monitoring Environment (EME), EnergyChange Environment (ECE), software means and interaction between saidparts and preferred components being at least some of: a Home EnergyServer (HES), Zone Energy Module(s) (ZEM), Light Switch Socket Unit(s)(LSSU), Local Renewable Supply (LRS), wiring circuitry, end devices,sensor apparatus, consumer display(s), local and remote communicationsand Remote Server Resources; overall act to selectively providereal-time measurements, advice and education, advertisements andrecommendations, dynamic control and actions, to directly reduce energyuse or enable migration towards more efficient use.
 16. An energymanagement and power provisioning system according to claim 15, whereina usage of an end electric appliance is captured by means of a sensorapparatus located in or near a fuse box, communicated to a Home EnergyServer (HES) for analysis and processing, where said Home Energy Server(HES) may selectively: show the energy usage via a display; or bycommunication means convey usage information to end consumer units suchas a phone or portable display; by inference analysis identify the typeof electric appliance in use e.g. via an onboard signal processingmeans, power signature analysis or by means of access to a remote serverresource; identify the type and usage of said electric device incorrelation with other utility (gas or water) usage monitoring; providean analysis or comparison of the efficiency of the device vs. analternative; seek an improvement advice or third party productsubstitution via the remote server resource and external parties;provide said usage advice or product substitution back to the consumer,or to a stakeholder; analyse what renewable resources might beappropriate to power such end device; analyse what local storage meansmight be appropriate to power such end device; learn from the usagebehaviour to update household energy use characteristics, behaviourtypes or management and efficiency control information; update defaultor scheduled setting of household—e.g. scheduled battery storagecharging, heating or hot-water settings; identify cross sellopportunities associated with such end device usage; audit the usage ofend devices.
 17. An energy management and power provisioning systemaccording to claim 1, where said sensing apparatus measures resourceloads and volumes of water or gas use or household temperatures, wherebyevents such as taps, sink use, shower use, bath-tub use, toiletflushing, washing machine, dish washer, cooking preparation, waterheating, room heating, or heating effectiveness maybe identified whenanalysed and processed by the Home Energy Server (HES).
 18. An energymanagement and power provisioning system according to claim 1,comprising a portable charger unit for use therewith, the portablecharger unit comprising a rechargeable battery pack, communicationmeans, display for energy usage data or advice, processing means, powerdelivery control module and connector socket for providing power to anend device, where said portable charge unit may selectively bechargeable from a cradle on the Home Energy Server or alternate supply.19. An energy management and power provisioning system according toclaim 1, comprising a connector plug for use therewith, the connectorplug, comprising a means of indicating key parameters for requiredvoltage and current when connected to a connector socket.
 20. An energymanagement and power provisioning system according to claim 1,comprising a connector socket for use therewith, the connector socketcomprising a means of detecting a key parameter for voltage and currentfrom a connector plug, and providing an appropriate voltage and currentvia a power delivery control module.
 21. An energy management and powerprovisioning system according to claim 1, comprising a wind poweredlocal renewable supply (LRS) for use therewith, the wind powered localrenewable supply being capable of being mounted on a wall, window, roofor vent structure, and being formed selectively as a; transparentapparatus; fixable to a extractor fan or bathroom vent; extractor fanand wind power device.
 22. A Home Energy Server (HES) according to claim6, arranged to connect to available power supplies such as an AC mainssupply, Local renewable supply or electricity storage device, andselectively uses these supplies to mediate a variable DC power circuitsupply to at least one of: a power delivery control module and connectorsocket, or circuit connected to further power control devices and lightswitch socket units capable of receiving an power input or providingappropriate voltages and current requested by end devices.